Gymnastics: WVU Just Misses Penn State
February 16, 2003 05:22 PM | General
February 16, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University's gymnastics team (6-4) lost a close meet with No. 19 Penn State, 195.45 to 194.9, Sunday afternoon in the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers did beat Rutgers, which scored a 192.4 in the tri-meet.
Entering the final rotation, West Virginia, leading the meet all day, led by just five-hundredths of a point, 146.1 to 146.05, after Penn State posted a 49.35 on floor exercise and the Mountaineers scored a 48.525 on beam.
But Penn State scored a 49.5 on vault, led by junior All-American Katie Rowland's perfect 10.0 to give the Nittany Lions the victory. West Virginia scored just a 48.8 on floor, but was highlighted by senior TeShawne Jackson's 9.9.
Rowland won the all-around with a 39.675 while Jackson finished second with a season-best 39.5. The Summerville, S.C., native also scored a 9.95 on vault which gave her her 20th career 9.9 or better score on vault, a WVU-best. Jackson also recorded her WVU career-leading 40th and 41st 9.9 or better scores in the meet.
West Virginia started the day on vault with a strong 49.2, the second-best vault score of the season. West Virginia was paced by Jackson's score and career-bests from sophomore Kari Williams (9.9) and junior Jessica Bartgis (9.725). Seniors Dinorh Boyd and Amanda Halovanic also posted a 9.825 and a 9.8, respectively.
On bars, West Virginia scored a 48.375 led by 9.775s from Jackson, freshman Alyssa DeSantis and Bartgis. Boyd scored a 9.675 also.
On the day, Jackson finished second in the all-around and on vault and placed third on beam and floor.
West Virginia returns to action, Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m., against George Washington, at the WVU Coliseum.
